SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI)

SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI)

                                                                  
   Introduction

 SRI is a system in which the simple alteration in management practices just by changing the ways of plants, soil and nutrients, other than using high yielding varieties or purchased inputs such as fertilizers and other agro chemicals can increase rice yield. Observation found that in this system farmers are getting almost double than existing yield (2-4 ton existing yield).The main principle behind this system includes.
 

1)     The planting younger seedlings i.e 12- 20 day’s seedlings –. The basic assumption in this principle is lower aged seedlings have higher tillering capacity so that yield can be increased

2)     Single seedling with wider distances (20-25 cm spacing) than in normal practices in which 4-5 seedlings are planted in closer (i.e in 15 x 15 cm) distances.

3)      In addition, other improved practices such as fertilizer application, weeding and control of pest and diseases can be followed as normal practices.

4)      The irrigation is controlled. Intermittent irrigation just to moisten the field rather than flooding the rice field is enough for this practice which minimizes the higher requirement of irrigation water. Water flooded to rice field cause mortality of rice root friendly bacteria by checking the free movement of oxygen in the deeper layer of soil.

5)     Water management system

-         Flooding the field for 2-3 hours in a day and left drying for 2 or 3 days.

-         Just use of intermittent yield for 1 hour daily.

-         water management can be fixed with WHT (Water hold tank)

6)     Fertilization

 There is no need of extra fertilizer to boost the yield but organic fertilizer gave better performances in Morang (R. Uprety). Poultry manure, Green fertilizer like Azolla, Dhaicha and wood ash are better for yield.

7) Weeding _ Weeding in SRI is higher in proportion than existing type because of low water application in field.

SRI a mile stone to food security of marginal farmers…

SRI (system of rice intensification) is a rice growing system in which the simple alteration in management practices just by changing the age of rice seedlings and cultivation practices, other than using high yielding varieties or purchased inputs such as fertilizers and other agro chemicals yields at least double amount of rice from same area than the prevailing system of rice cultivation that has been followed by Nepalese farmers for years. The main principle followed by SRI to boost up yield    includes the planting of lower aged seedlings i.e. 12-20 days at a bit wider distances (20-25 cm spacing) than in prevailing practices in which 4-5 seedlings are planted in closer(i.e. in 15 x 15 cm) distances. The basic assumption in this principle is lower aged seedlings have higher tillering capacity so that yield can be increased. In addition, other improved practices such as fertilizer application, weeding and control of pest and diseases can be followed as prevailing practices. Nevertheless, irrigation in SRI is controlled and applied just to keep the field moistures rather than flooded which minimizes the higher requirement of irrigation water and provides better environment for prosperous tillering and panicle in rice. 

 A Return Analysis from SRI Method based on Farmer's field school in Bjh

In SRI method:
S.N	Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount(Rs)
	Total Cost				2328
A	Input cost				128
1.1	Seed	Kg	0.5	15	7.5
1.2	Fertilizer-Chemical	Kg
	Fertilizer-FYM	Doko	20	6	120
1.3	Pesticide	Bot.
B	Labor cost				2000
1.4	Nursery Bed	M-D	1	160	160
1.5	Field preparation	M-D	2	160	320
1.6	Transplanting	M-D	3	160	480
1.7	Weeding	M-D	3	160	480
1.8	Harvesting	M-D	1.5	160	240
1.9	Threshing/ storage	M-D	2	160	320
C	Bullock cost				200
1.1	Field preparation	B-D	0.5	200	100
1.11	Puddling	B-D	0.5	200	100
2	Income				4090
	Paddy grain	Kg	195	12	2340
	Straw	Bito	7	250	1750
3	Gross income				4090
4	Net income				1763
5	Cost/ Income ratio				0.8
Existing  Method
S.N	Description	Unit	Qty	Rate	Amount(Rs)
1	Total Cost				2188
A	Input cost				388
1.1	Seed	Kg	2.5	15	37.5
1.2	Fertilizer-Chemical	Kg
	Fertilizer-FYM	Doko	40	6	240
1.3	Pesticide	Bot.	1	110	110
B	Labor cost				1600
1.4	Nursery Bed	M-D	1	160	160
1.5	Field preparation	M-D	2	160	320
1.6	Transplanting	M-D	2	160	320
1.7	Weeding	M-D	1.5	160	240
1.8	Harvesting	M-D	1.5	160	240
1.9	Threshing/ storage	M-D	2	160	320
C	Bullock cost				200
1.1	Field preparation	B-D	0.5	200	100
1.11	Puddling	B-D	0.5	200	100
2	Income				3660
	Paddy grain	Kg	180	12	2160
	Straw	Bito	6	250	1500
3	Gross income				3660
4	Net income				1473
5	Cost income ratio				0.67
Yield increment (%)		8